companies that modify equipment...opinions

And it's still an over the top statement, IMO.

Equipment at any price level might benefit from a circuit modification, but unless the equipment is defective or dangerous to operate no equipment needs a modification.

I agree totally with audioengr in that it CAN be a great way to go but you better do your homework. This is to say that you shouldn't run out and have a mod performed just because of what you read or heard from others. I also feel it necessary to HEAR prior to purchase. The 1st level mod, changing out caps, resistors etc. for different more expensive ones won't necessarily give you a better end result but it is relatively inexpensive and easier to change back. The one area where improvements can be vastly improved are in the power supply as he mentions but this is risky business, you better know who you are dealing with and not be guessing or hoping about the end result. If in doubt DON'T DO IT! Some of the biggest "bang for buck" improvements in an component can be realized through modifications but again, they aren't all created equally.

The real downside to modifications, as mentioned, is that you will most likely not capture your initial investment unless purchasing used and the modifications have been performed from a known and respected business, cavaet emptor!

" a simple tweak almost everyone can do is to replace the cheap cap in series with tweeter with a really high end ones. I replaced the mundorf silver/gold with teflon v-cap in my avantgarde omega duos. the difference is dramatic "

How would that affect the warranty, if applicable.

Most vendors would not want end users mucking with their gear and then requesting support under warranty I would think.

"I agree totally with audioengr in that it CAN be a great way to go but you better do your homework."

Amen to that!

TO do the homework, one best be sure they are qualified or able to do it correctly as well!

I have no doubt Audioengr is qualified and knows not only what to do to do it right but what to do if something should go wrong. After, all, I believe that is his job.
You better be willing to invest the time needed to accomplish all this properly.

How many of us not in the home audio design and engineering business, like myself, can say the same thing? Are we better qualified than the engineers at say Audio Research to make these decisions regarding their products and do it right?

If so, maybe a particular companies products aren't all that great to start with and another should be considered.

I might consider letting a third party do such modifications, if they are currently endorsed or supported by the original makers to the extent of making certain mods without invalidating the warranty policy. Otherwise, I feel I might be wading into waters too deep for me personally to assess properly, especially if things head south.

"So I suppose if you built your own components from scratch then stock would just not be good enough."

Like I sad, I dont mod anymore. But I do build all of my own components now, because my customers bugged me for years to do this. See my website.

And I do mod my own components. They change and upgrade often, and I offer new upgrades frequently. It's not like other companies that market a product assembled in the thousands in China that cannot be changed for the life of the product. I build in 100 qty typically and make my products modular so the modules can be improved or updated to keep up with the moving technology. This makes it so I can react to improved parts, technologies and mods to keep my products at the top of my game.

Some of my customers have had three generations or more of my products and never had to replace them, just update them with newer modules and tweaks. This saves them money, and gives them confidence that the new version will actually be better than what they had before. Lower risk.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio